Bobbin clutch for textile spindle assembly



United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventors Philip A. Bowie Pendleton;

Edward A. Bragg, Clemson, South Carolina m m n N "a n U n ".B u. u r. n n Q a tm mm E: D .10m d luf. eO t erae 3 SEC we H 338 566 H 9999 N llll D. ///l .n 6 65 UR o MJ 06 5 333 y 13 v u 6534 m 9298 m 96 0 3 233 PA n S .m m I. n m h M. H St IMO 9 nn fi0 7 l 1 JB 7 0 r m m 5 8 iwmm m e hC oo uDMCa 0. de N 6.: M 0: wmu pun S AFPA 1.11.1 253 224. .lll.l..|.

[541 BOBBIN E FOR TEXTILE SPINDLE ABSTRACT: A bobbin clutch for textile spindle assemblies 3 D which may be of the type including a collar slidable longiturawmg dinally of the spindle blades lower portion and having a clutch U.S. Cl..

242/46.6 upon both such collar and upon the blades upper portion. The B65h 75/30 ably seated within cooperating grooves and having resilient fingers extending outwardly therefrom for releasably engaging a bobbi mounted by the assembly.

clutches comprise resilient split rings detach B65h 7 /00: DOlh 3/16 [50] FieldofSearch............m....................l..l..... 242/46.6,

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 qz z'if INVENTORS EDWARD A. BRAGG PHILIP A. sown:

BOBBIN CLUTCH FOR TEXTILE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to spindle assemblies. for textile spinning frames or the like, and more specifically to an improved bobbin clutch particularly but not exclusively adapted for use in spindle assemblies having a collar slidable longitudinally of the spindle blade to assist in supporting a bobbin thereon and in breaking underwound yarn during doffing of the bobbin therefrom.

Bobbin clutches of various constructions have long been utilized for releasably connecting the rotatable blade and/or related components of spindle assemblies to bobbins supported thereby. It has been found, however, that bobbin clutches suitable for spindle assemblies doffed manually may not be satisfactory in all respects for assemblies serviced by automatic bobbin doffers such as are now coming into general use. Bobbin clutches employed in spindle assemblies serviced by an automatic doffer must be extremely reliable in operation. One malfunctioning clutch impeding the doffing or donning of a single bobbin could with certain types of automatic doffers interrupt the servicing of an entire spinning frame and/or cause considerable damage to the doffing apparatus. The clutches must also be ofa more rugged and durable construction since the same degree of individual care and selectivity possible in manual doffing, as in seating or unseating a slightly deformed bobbin, cannot be achieved in automatic doffing. Clutches for automatically doffed spindle assemblies should also be as inexpensive to manufacture and install as possible. This is highly desirable since some of the clutches will inevitably require eventual replacement, under the more stringent operating conditions referred to above, and also since man automatically doffed spindle assemblies are of a type utilizing not just a single clutch, but rather two: one upon the spindle blade and another upon a collar slidable longitudinally of the blades lower portion. Such a collar assists during operation of the spindle assembly in supporting the bobbin thereon and during doffing assists in breaking the yarn extending from the bobbin being doffed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides a bobbin clutch, well suited for automatically as well as manually doffed spindle assemblies, which is of simple and inexpensive construction but which is highly reliable and durable in operation. Clutches constructed in accordance with the present invention can be economically machine produced in large quantities, can be quickly installed without the use of tools even by inexperienced personnel, and can be utilized with equal facility and efficiency either upon the upper or an other desired portion of a spindle blade or upon a collar slidably mounted upon the lower portion of such blade.

ln a preferred specific embodiment of the invention, the present clutch comprises a resilient split ring, formed as by stamping from a strip of spring steel or the like, detachably seated within a mating groove provided about the periphery of the spindle blade or the collar to which a bobbin is to be releasably coupled. A plurality of resilient finger elements spaced about the circumference of the ring have their upper ends formed integrally therewith and their medial portions bowed outwardly therefrom for releasably engaging a bobbin mounted upon the spindle assembly. The lower ends of the resilient fingers are unrestrained and are disposed within the ring and an undercut portion of the groove seating the same, so as to facilitate flexing of the medial finger portions as a bobbin passes on to or from the same and yet not themselves an gage the bobbin or impede its movement.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a spindle assembly having two bobbin clutches constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 through the clutch at the upper end portion of the spindle assembly of FIG. 1, the spindle blade being shown in elevation; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged and exploded top perspective view of the collar and associated clutch at the lower end portion of the assembly of FIG. 1.

The spindle assembly designated in its entirety in FIG. 1 by the numeral 10 includes generally an upright shaft 12 adapted to be conventionally mounted upon the spindle rail ofa textile spinning frame or the like (not shown) and supporting for rotation about its generally vertical axis a whirl l3, underwinding acorn l4, and bobbin support means including elongate spindle blade 16. Blade 16 may be either integral with shaft 12 or journaled thereon by suitable bearings (not shown) therewithin. In either case, whirl 13, acorn l4 and blade 16 are rotatable as a unit during operation of the assembly about the axis ofshaft 12, the rotation being produced by a drive tape (not shown) engaging the whirl.

Closely encircling the lower end portion of blade 16 is a generally cylindrical collar 18 having a beveled upper end portion 20 and a bottom flange 22 projecting radially outwardly from its lower end beyond the top of the acorn 14 shown supporting the same in FIG. 1. The outer peripheral surface of flange 22 is notched or roughened, as by knurling, and the peripheral surfaces of acorn 14 may also be knurled or roughened, as shown. Collar 18 is sliclable longitudinally of blade 16, during doffing of a bobbin therefrom, between acorn 14 and a snapring 24 or other suitable abutment encircling blade 16 intermediate its length. The purpose of such a collar, to facilitate breakage of the yarn extending between the bobbin and the acorn 14, is known to those skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 1, blade 16 is provided adjacent its upper end with an encircling peripheral groove 28 of uniform shallow depth except for an undercut portion 30 in spaced adjacent relationship to its lower edge. Groove 28 is dimensioned so as to snugly seat the resilient and generally cylindrical main body element 32 of a bobbin clutch having the general shape of a longitudinally split ring. A plurality of resilient finger elements 34 spaced substantially equally about the circumference of main body 32 extend generally longitudinally thereof intermediate its upper and lower edges. Preferably three such finger elements, spaced approximately apart, are provided. Each finger 34 has its upper end connected to and preferably integral with main body 32, and its lower end separated from and disposed radially inwardly of the main body. When main body 32 is seated within groove 28, the height and depth ofwhich correspond to the height and wall thickness of the main body, the grooves undercut portion 30 receives the inwardly projecting lower ends of fingers elements 34. Intermediate its upper and lower ends, each finger 34 bows outwardly beyond the periphery of main body 32 and radially beyond the adjacent sections of spindle blade 16, for releasably engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the upper end portion of a bobbin (not shown) carried by assembly 10 with its base or lower end supported upon flange 22 ofcollar 18.

For the purpose of similarly releasably coupling the lower end portion of such a bobbin to collar 18, the latter is provided (P16. 3) beneath its beveled upper end portionll) with an encircling groove 28 having an undercut portion 30'. Groove 28' may extend downwardly, as shown, to the upper surface of flange 22 of collar 18. Groove 28' detachably seats a bobbin clutch corresponding in its elements 32, 34 and overall construction to the bobbin clutch provided at the upper end portion of blade 16 except for size, the diameter of the clutch and related components at collar 18 being greater than at the upper end of blade 16 to accommodate the greater internal diameter of the bobbin at its lower end portion.

It will be appreciated that the present bobbin clutches may be readily produced from strips of spring or the like by simple stamping, bending and heat-treating operation. The associated grooves within blade 16 and collar 18 may similarly be produced with facility by turning or casting techniques. By reason of its resilience and resulting capability for diametrical expansion, the lower clutch may be seated within groove 28' simply by forcing main body 32' downwardly over the beveled upper portion 20 of collar 18 until the same snaps into place within groove 28'. The upper clutch may be similarly seated by forcing the same downwardly over the upper end of blade 16 until main body 32 seats within groove 28. It is preferred that the relative diameters of each clutch and its associated groove be such that when the aforesaid seating is accomplished the main body element of each clutch will substantially but not completely encircle its groove. The edges adjacent the split in the main body element of each clutch are thus separated an appreciable distance from each other so as to leave therebetween a gap, designated in FIG. 1 as 36, 36, of significant width. This permits cleaning and therefore discourages the accumulation of lint and other extraneous matter in the gap, and also permits the clutch to be more readily removed ifit should become damaged'in operation and require replacement. Removal of either clutch can be quickly effected by inexperienced personnel utilizing either no tools whatsoever or, if desired, only a rudimentary too such as a penknife to assist tin unseating the clutch from its groove.

In the utilization of assembly 10, a conventional bobbin is donned either automatically or manually upon the upper end of blade 16 and moved downwardly thereof until its base engages and rests upon flange 22. of collar 18. No part of either clutch presents any exposed edges or the like which might tend to snag the bobbin or otherwise interfere with donning, and the outwardly bowed portions of resilient fingers 34, 34' readily flex inwardly as the inner bobbin surfaces to be engaged thereby pass into engagement with them. The inward flexing of the bowed portions of fingers 34, 34' is facilitated and accompanied by a downward movement ofthe lower ends of the fingers within the respective undercut portions, 30, 30' of grooves 28, 28'. The donned bobbin is interiorly engaged at its upper section by the outwardly bowed portions of fingers 34 and at its lower section by the outwardly bowed portions of fingers 34' so that, upon operation of assembly 10, there is unitary rotation about the axis of shaft 12 of the bobbin, blade 16, collar 18, acorn 14 and whirl 13. At the'completion of the spinning operation a few wraps of yarn are underwound about acorn 14 and then full bobbin is doffed either automatically or manually from assembly by moving it upwardly from blade 16. Collar 18 moves upwardly with the bobbin until it abuts ring 24, at which point the collar remains stationary as the bobbin continues to be moved from it and from blade 16. Engagement between the roughened surface ofthe collars flange 22 and the yarn extending intermediate acorn l4 and the bobbin discourages additional yarn sloughing off the bobbin and facilitates the desired yarn breakage. The outwardly bowed portions of fingers 34, 34' readily release the confronting inner bobbin surfaces previously engaged thereby as the bobbin is moved as aforesaid therefrom, and the sheltered location of the lower ends of the fingers within the respective slot portions 30, 30 prohibit their snagging any part the yarn or the bobbin or otherwise impeding doffing.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a bobbin clutch fulfilling the needs and possessing the advantages and benefits hereinbefore noted. Although specific terms have been employed in the aforesaid description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, this was for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being in accordance with the following claims.

We claim:

1. A textile spindle assembly for spinning frames and the like, comprising generally cylindrical bobbin support means mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said bobbin support means having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter ofa bobbin adapted to be received thereon and having a groove extending about the circumference thereof, a bobbin clutch detachably carried by said bobbin support means for releasably engaging a bobbin mounted thereon, said bobbin clutch comprising a resilient splitring main body element detachably seated within and substantially encircling said groove of said bobbin support means, said main body element having a plurality of resilient finger elements connected at their upper ends thereto at spaced locations about the circumference thereof, the lower ends of said finger elements being free and disposed above the lower edge of said main body element and radially inwardly thereof, and said finger elements intermediate said upper and said lower ends thereof projecting outwardly beyond said groove and the outer diameter of said bobbin support means for releasably engaging a bobbin mounted thereon.

2. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein said groove of said bobbin support means has a depth along a first portion of its height corresponding substantially to the thickness of said main body element and has a greater depth along a second portion of its height, the lower ends of said finger elements being disposed within said second portion of said groove of said bobbin support means.

3. An assembly as in claim 2, including a second groove extending about the circumference of said bobbin support means in axially spaced relationship to said first-mentioned groove, said second groove being of substantially the same construction as said first groove, and a second bobbin clutch of substantially the same construction as said first-mentioned bobbin clutch detachably seated within said second groove.

4. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein said bobbin support means includes an upright shaft, an elongate spindle blade rotatable about the axis of said shaft, said groove being formed in said blade adjacent the upper end thereof.

5. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein said bobbin support means includes an upright shaft, an elongate spindle blade rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a collar encircling said blade adjacent the lower end thereof, said groove being formed in said collar.

6. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein the edges ofsaid main body element adjacent the split therein are spaced from each so as to define a gap of appreciable width therebetween when said main body element is seated within said groove.

7. A textile spindle assembly for spinning frames and the like, comprising an upright shaft, an elongate spindle blade rotatable about the axis of said shaft, a whirl disposed beneath and connected to said blade for imparting rotation to the same, a flanged collar encircling said blade adjacent its lower end, said collar being slidable longitudinally of said blade and adapted to support the base of a bobbin received thereon, said blade having a groove extending about its circumference adjacent its upper end and said collar having a groove extending about its circumference above said flange thereof, each of said grooves having a first depth along a first portion of its height and a second depth along a second portion of its height, bobbin clutches detachably carried by said blade and by said collar respectively for releasably engaging a bobbin received thereon, each of said bobbin clutches comprising a resilient splitring main body element detachably seated within and substantially encircling a corresponding one of said grooves, each of said clutches having a plurality of finger elements formed at their upper ends integrally with said main body element thereof at generally equally spaced locations about the periphery thereof, the lower ends of said finger elements of each of said clutches being free and disposed above and radially inwardly of the lower end of said main body element thereof within said second portion of the one of said grooves associated therewith, and said finger elements of each of said clutches projecting intermediate said upper and said lower ends thereof outwardly beyond said main body element thereof and said groove associated there with for releasably engaging a bobbin mounted by said assembly.

8. An assembly as in claim 7, wherein said collar has a beveled upper end portion and its flange extends outwardly from its lower end and has a roughened peripheral surface, said groove about the circumference of said collar being disposed between said beveled upper end portion and said flange thereof.

9. An assembly as in claim 7, wherein in each of said main body element adjacent the split therein are spaced from each 

